Psychologist Anne Marie Albano shares her story of anxiety as a young girl, and how her current interest in childhood anxiety stemmed from her own personal experiences. Anxiety disorders, she explains, can start as early as four years old and can create great suffering in the child as well as their parents. If anxiety is left untreated during early childhood, it can lead to depression, substance abuse, and even suicidal ideation.
She notes that her parents performed their own version of exposure therapy to get young Albano to overcome her anxiety. Such professional therapy is one of the most beneficial treatments for anxiety. Through her research, she discovered that the combination of exposure therapy sessions and SSRIs in adolescents can alleviate anxiety, but not fully get rid of it. Thus, she discovered that parents with good intentions for their children unintentionally cause more anxiety in them by not letting them take risks.
Taking risks is a key factor in reducing anxiety. If they don’t, then they continue to get increasingly anxious and lower self-esteem. Compared to children able to take risks, they display more confidence and are able to manage situations. The best practice for parents is to help them face their fears and solve problems. Only then will the child be able to develop coping mechanisms and deal with situations on their own.
To watch the full Ted Talk, click here!
Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant